THE NSW government is set to roll out a raft of changes covering learner driver licences, including a decrease in the number of logbook hours and an increase in driving speed.
Among the reforms, young drivers will be offered the chance to reduce their logbook driving hours from 120 to 80 by participating in The Safer Drivers Course and having professional lessons.
The Safer Drivers Course will be rolled out throughout NSW between July this year and January 2014.
The speed limit for learner drivers will also be increased from 80km/h to 90km/h.
“Young drivers and their parents can sometimes struggle to log 120 hours behind the wheel while on their L-plates,” said Kiama MP Gareth Ward.
“Now by participating in The Safer Drivers Course and having professional lessons to reduce their compulsory supervised driving hours to 80.
“Our young drivers also need more experience on higher speed roads and the raising of the limit from 80km/h to 90km/h will help with the transition to P-plates.”
Statistics indicate that in the first few months of driving on P-plates, a young driver is at nine times more risk of being injured in a crash than a driver on their L-plates.